Author Archives: hcru

Hello HCRU Subscribers!

We thought you may be interested in a recent article about Rutgers Professor and HCRU Faculty Adviser Dr Julien Musolino.  The article, titled Students in Rutgers Psychology Class Probe Religious Mind and published on the Rutgers SAS website, explores the unique content and approach to the study of religion that the course offers.

The course explores religion from a scientific perspective, covering domains ranging from neuroscience to American culture, and even human nature more broadly.  Over the semester, the 200 students registered for Dr. Musolino’s “Religious Mind” ask: Why do we believe in Gods?  And further, distrust atheists?  Do human beings have souls, and is there an afterlife? And does religion make us moral?  Throughout the course, students are encouraged to answer these and many others questions by sifting through the empirical research we have to date.

As one sophomore Uri Veit explained, “I’d never come across a college class that analyzes religion from an empirical scientific perspective… I spent most of my life around religion and I want to understand those beliefs from the psychological perspective.”

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact the Humanist Community at Rutgers.  You can also read Dr. Musolino’s book The Soul Fallacy: What Science Shows We Gain by Letting Go of Our Soul Beliefs, which is read during the course, in the link provided.

The Humanist Community at Rutgers University newsletter will be starting a new monthly digest of articles published by Rutgers students and alumni on Applied Sentience – a new national platform for the next-generation of Humanist thinkers.

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“The Fiction Fallacy: Part 1, The Problem” by Alex Ioakimidis

Check out Alex’s first article as one of AS’s newest Staff Writers!  Alex, a Rutgers undergraduate, explores the use of “What If?” questions in fiction and wonder whether they can be of any real, substantive use in developing answers.

“Of Hidden Gods: Sometimes Absence of Evidence IS Evidence of Absence” by Paul Chiariello

Have you ever talked with a theist who admits there aren’t any good argument or evidence for God, but still states that this doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist?  AS Managing Editor and HCRU Director Paul Chiariello argues that, while this maxim is usually true, there are exception and evidence for God is one of them.

“Reason vs Religion at Rutgers: Julien Musolino Debates Mark Baker” by Leo Kozachkov

Leo, a Rutgers undergrad and frequent writer for Applied Sentience, reviews the recent Veritas Forum event at Rutgers in which HCRU’s very own Faculty Adviser and author of the recent book The Soul Fallacy debates linguist Mark Baker on their “perspectives on Science and Faith.”

“Why We’re Here: Exploring the Causes of Hong Kong’s Protests” by Denzel Zhu

The recent Pro-Democracy protests in Hong Kong marked an important moment in the history and future of the city state.  But as things usually are, the issues at the core of the protest are complex.  n this article Denzel, a Rutgers Sophomore, clears up some of this complexity in his thorough analysis.

Unfortunately, regular office hours with Humanist Chaplain Barry Klassel at the RISN House have been canceled for the remainder of the Spring semester.

However!  If you would like to schedule a time to explore what Humanism is, talk about problems or stress you’ve having, what to get more involved with the Rutgers Humanist Community, or anything else then don’t hesitate to send us an email.

You can schedule a meeting with Barry by emailing him at rutgershumanist@gmail.com.

Whether or not you’re already part of a humanist, atheist, or other related group in NJ, it’s always nice to check out a few more.

The New Jersey Coalition of Reason is a member of (more…)

Office hours this week have been canceled.

Barry will be busy planning an exciting event with Rutgers administration and the American Humanist Association, tentatively titled ‘The Future Common Ground Conference’.    More details in the soon.  Stay tuned!

Barry will still be available to talk online or set up a appointment.  Just send him an email at <Rutgershumanist@gmail.com>

Alexander Ioakimidis, a Rutgers University undergraduate and double major in Astrophysics and Philosophy, has just joined Applied Sentience‘s ranks as their newest staff writer!

Applied Sentience is a “Next Generation Humanist Thinkblog.”  You can check out a list and bios of their Staff Writers, including Alex, from all over the country in the link.

You can also check out the writer’s archives for AS’s two other current Rutgers staff writers Heather Yaden and Leo Kozachkov.  Former AS staff writers from Rutgers include Paul Jones, James Carroll, Harold A. Mesa, and Emma Leigh.